Islanders News

BACK TO THE BEGINNING

Following the Islanders' 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday, head coach Ted Nolan returned to line combinations that earlier in the season brought about a fast start to the Islanders' season.

Forwards Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie and Ruslan Fedotenko have been reunited for the first time since playing together for a two-game stretch from November 16-19.

"We looked back to when we had some success when Billy Guerin, Comrie and Fedotenko were our best line," said Ted. "They're put in a position where they have to play well, so if we put them all together they can be accountable for one another."

The three off-season acquisitions spent the entire Training Camp together and began the season on fire before being broken up. The trio looks to recreate that chemistry that helped get the Islanders off to one of the best starts in franchise history.

Also re-forming is the "shut down" line of Mike Sillinger, Andy Hilbert and Trent Hunter. This line has been together for much of the season, but was split up last game against Boston.

"We looked back at the success the Sillinger line had the past two years," said Nolan. "You can't dispute that, so we put them back together."

Josef Vasicek and Miroslav Satan will once again play together and will be flanked on the left side by Jeff Tambellini. The three of them saw time together in October before Tambellini was sent to Bridgeport. The "so-called" fourth line will consist of Richard Park, Chris Simon and Sean Bergenheim.

"We have to work with what we've got and make them feel good about themselves," said Ted. "From the first minute to the 20th minute we have to work a little bit harder."

The Islanders get back to the ice tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the St. Pete Times Forum. The puck drops at 7:30. Catch the action live on Bloomberg 1130 with Steve Mears and Chris King or on FSN NY 2 with Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe.

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